Hell's Kitchen Radio #609: Mitch Polzak Moseys On In To The Show

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When I prepare for an interview with a musician, it's mostly based on their music that I craft the questions. I want to know where the ideas for the stories came from. I want to know how they crafted the song, where the melody came from. Then I start to dig. I need to know their influences, musical and otherwise. 

This is when it gets fun. 

Tell me where you grew up. What was the first music that caught your attention? Who in your life do you credit with turning you on to the music that helped define your own journey? 

Once in a blue moon do I interview someone I've only met a few times but feel a quick kinship with.

Mitch Polzak is one of these people. I've seen Mitch play at the Ivy Room in Albany a few times, and once on his home court in Port Costa, where he once was mayor. 

Mitch will look you right in the eyes when he's playing, and you know he's playing just for you. And he is! He told me this himself last Monday when he was my guest. I told him that he had to guest DJ with me, and he did not disappoint! He brought 33 LPs along with him and everything that aired on Monday night was his choosing, except for my opening set and the single Mitch Polzak tune that I pulled out, and it's thanks to his delightful partner, Amanda, that "Sugrarfoot Rag" was chosen.

We caught each other saying "you too?!?!" a lot during the show, and a lot of laughter throughout. The

music ranges from delta blues, bluegrass, folk, Bakersfield Country, train songs, trucker songs, and honky tonk. 

What a magnificent night this was. 

I hope you take the time to listen into the music and enjoy our banter. Better yet, please take yourself and a loved one out to see Mitch perform live. You'll find Mitch was looking for you all along.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM Pacific
Radio Valencia in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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Honky Tonk Blues: Hank Williams
Wham Bam: Buck Owens
It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels: Kitty Wells
Cannon Ball: Merle Travis

Watch My Fingers: Lightning Hopkins
Cumberland Gap: Flatt and Scruggs
Ballad of 40 Dollars: Tom T Hall
Road Runner: Blackie Forestier

Sugarfoot Rag: Mitch Polzak
Sad Hour: Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
Randall Collins: Norman Blake
The Longer You Wait: Merle Haggard

Let The Good Times Roll: Buck Owens
Nitro Express: Redd Simpson
Bucking Mule (Piano): Uncle John Patterson
Tombstone Every Mile: Dick Curless
Caffein, Nicotine, Benzedrine: Gary Stewart
For A Few Dollars More: Ennio Morricone

Cause of it All: Howlin' Wolf
I Got Love If You Want It: Slim Harpo
Fire On The Strings: Joe Maphis
Stone Walls and Steel Bars: Jimmy Martin and Ralph Stanley

This Time: Waylon Jennings
Rain: Charlie Feathers
Alabama Jubilee: Roy Clark

Graystone Chapel: Johnny Cash

A Season in Hell #191: I'm Your Angel

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...so sayeth the lord...or something like that.

A show with no guests, is like going on a long ride with your best friend. Best friend being you. Aw shucks. We like the same movies. We like the same bands. We both like long walks on the beach, and pina colada's, and getting tossed like a salad.

Some new artists to start the night, and fine mix of genres throughout the set. Something for every one of my dear, close friends.

Can I borrow a dollar?

Enjoy.

jh

A Season in Hell with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia
http://radiovalencia.fm

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Up in Smoke: Cheech and Chong
Wild Coyote: The Nude Party
Here It Comes Again: The Amazing Snakeheads

The Candidate: Urge Overkill
Alice Mae: RL Burnside
Angelhead: Monkeywrench
Get Out Of My Life, Woman: The Butterfield Blues Band

Country Girl: CSNY
You Win Again: Hank Williams
The Hedgehog Waltz: Gaucho
Just Like a Woman: Bob Dylan

The Hand: Ty Segall
I Need Your Help: Major Powers and the Lo-Fi Symphony
By The Time I Get To Phoenix: Public Enemy
Tour de Force: Dizzy Gillespie

Hot Cha: Roland Kirk
Not Boweevil: Sex Mob
The Wizard: Brown Sabbath
Sly: Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters

Too Young To Die: Jamiroquai
Strange Fruit (Tricky Remix): Billy Holliday
Down Home Girl: The Coasters

What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

A Season in Hell #173: My Own Personal Torment

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I have a very large music collection. Too large some might say. But I'm a DJ, so shut up. Anyway, a lot of people give me CDs, asking them to play their band. I don't keep those, usually. Mostly, those go to the radio station. Others give me mix CDs, saying that I'll just love their mix. I often re-gift those. Often, but not always, and NEVER from my dear friend, and brother-from-another-mother, Mikl Em. His mixes are always thoughtful and irreverent. Yes, I know what that word means. Like I said, brother-from-another-mother.

As I was considering what to play for tonight's show, I found a mix CD he made for me a few years back, titled "Songs about God". I gave it a listen a realized, HEY, I can make a show out of this. I have lots of music about God. Not all of these songs are the most respectful, but then again my name is John Hell.

So tonight I bring you my own personal torment. I think you'll enjoy it. it was fun to put together.

Enjoy.

jh

A Season in Hell with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia, 87.9FM in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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No Depression: Uncle Tupelo
Bukowski: Modest Mouse
The Weeping Song: Nick Cave

God's Away on Business: Tom Waits
Christian Brothers: Elliot Smith
It Ain't Necessarily So: Aretha Franklin

Jesus Walking on Water: Violent Femmes
I Saw the Light: The The
They Ain't Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore: Kinky Friedman
Christ for President: Billy Bragg and Wilco
Everybody Wants to go to Heaven: Love and Rockets

Monkey Goes to Heaven: Pixies
Ode to Scientology: The Evangenitals
Judgement Day: Jack O'Fire
Sermon on the Mount: William S. Burroughs
Give Thanks and Praises: Bob Marley

Jesus Fever: Kurt Vile
Sweet and Sour Jesus: Supersuckers
New Improved Testament: White Noise Radio Theater
Religion: PIL

The Insect God: Monks of Doom
Presence of the Lord: Blind Faith
So It Is Written: Savage Republic
Your Own Personal Jesus: Johnny Cash

Touch My Evil: Lydia Lunch
Not of this God: Slayer
I Saw the Light: Hank Williams

The Rodeo: Gary Lee and the Showdown